Manager, Airport Operations

The Manager, Airport Operations is a member of the Airport Operations leadership team and is primarily responsible for Porter’s relationship with ground handlers in selected stations.. They oversee business matters to ensure ground handler performance achieves defined safety,reliability, service, and commercial standards while containing costs. To achieve this, the Manager is regularly traveling throughout the Porter network to maintain relationships with ground handlers, local airports, and to inspect operations.

They identify and eliminate barriers to reduce station-controllable delays and work cross-functionally to reduce system controllable and uncontrollable delays. 

The Manager engages with other departments and stakeholders outside the Porter organization to ensure the necessary tools, processes and resources are in place to achieve the team’s targets and metrics and to achieve a safe and accident-free operation. Meets defined financial performance targets. Constantly seeks ways to drive operational efficiency while supporting team members and passengers. 

As part of the leadership rotation, the Manager provides 7 day per week leadership coverage as a point of escalation for Airport Operations to pre-empt, address, contain, and resolve issues in the operation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accountable for, fosters, and manages relationships with contracted ground handling companies. Works closely with ground handlers to ensure consistent delivery of the passenger experience and to achieve aircraft turn performance to defined safety, reliability, service, commercial and operational standards.

• Is diligent about maintaining a safe and accident-free environment.

• Works across the organization to remove barriers and to deliver corporate objectives. 

• Regularly coordinates with ground handler and department leadership. Builds and develops the strongest working relationship possible. 

• Examines and implements operational efficiency initiatives with ground handlers.

• Works with various Airport Authorities to protect, defend and enhance Porter’s interests. Attends or coordinates attendance at all necessary airport meetings 

• Actively reduces and contains costs while maintaining and improving operational and service performance.

• Reports on monthly P&L numbers and is accountable for annual budget preparation and adherence.

• Works with third party suppliers to ensure ground service equipment (GSE) are properly maintained, safe and reliable to support operations. Develops near-term and long-term fleet plans, including operational and CAPEX budgets. 

• Conducts regular (monthly) business reviews with contracted ground handlers.

• Conducts regular (weekly) operational metric and business reviews with senior Airport Operations leadership to maintain operational performance and identify trends for corrective action. Establishes and monitors station audit practices to ensure compliance with service, reliability, safety and regulatory standards and guidelines. 

• Establishes business cases for the necessary investments to reach and sustain operational performance.

• Collaborates with the Operational Excellence department (Process Excellence, Learning and Development, Standards and Quality Assurance) to ensure ground handlers understand Porter’s processes, are trained and qualified to the required standard, and perform their functions to the defined safety, reliability, service, and commercial standards.

• Actively participates in Porter’s Safety Management System (SMS) including reporting hazards and incidents encountered in daily operations; understands and promotes the Company’s Safety Policy. Completes thorough safety investigations and recommends both short term and long term corrective actions that address the root causes. Follows up with ground handlers to ensure that corrective actions are fully implemented.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Concern for Safety: Identifying hazardous or potentially hazardous situations and taking appropriate action to maintain a safe environment for self and others.

• Teamwork: Working collaboratively with others to achieve organizational goals.

• Passenger/Customer Service: Providing service excellence to internal and/or external customers (passengers).

• Initiative: Dealing with situations and issues proactively and persistently, seizing opportunities that arise.

• Results Focus: Focusing efforts on achieving high quality results consistent with the organization’s standards.

• Fostering Communication: Listening and communicating openly, honestly, and respectfully with different audiences, promoting dialogue and building consensus.

• Exemplifying Integrity: Treating others fairly, honestly, and respectfully, furthering the integrity of the organization and its relationships of trust with team members and the broader community.

• Inspiring Others: Energizing and inspiring others to strive for excellence and commit to common goals and purposes, creating a sense of self-efficacy, resilience, and persistence in followers. 

• People Leadership: Assuming a leadership role in helping others achieve excellent results.

• Leading Change: Recognizing the need for change, being open to new ideas and methods, and championing transformational change within the organization and beyond.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 7 to 10 years of relevant industry experience

• A post secondary degree in business or an aviation related field is considered an asset but not necessary. 

• Previous experience in contracts negotiations

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and triage resources

• Demonstrated ability to manage change and its effects in a positive way

• Demonstrated ability to navigate different viewpoints and interests and come to strong, logical, and business minded decisions.

• Change Management, Communication and/or Codeshare operations considered an asset, but not required. 

• Ability to hold and maintain a Transport Canada Security Clearance

• Travel required 40% of the time across multiple jurisdictions and countries

• Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination

LOCATION: Toronto (Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport - YTZ, Remote Opportunity)